Aligned networks on substrates

Abstract

Among other things, two networks, one on top of the other, are formed on a substrate based on coating materials containing emulsions or foams. The two networks can be formed of the same material, e.g., a conductive material such as silver, or can be formed of different materials. The coating materials forming the different networks can have different concentration of network materials.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An article comprising:
 a substrate; 
 a first network on the substrate, the first network having interconnected traces defining randomly shaped voids and being formed from a first emulsion-based composition; and 
 a second network on the first network and in direct contact with the first network, the second network having interconnected traces defining randomly shaped voids and being formed from a second emulsion-based composition. 
 
     
     
       2. The article of  claim 1 , wherein the second network aligns with the first network. 
     
     
       3. The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first network and the second network have different compositions. 
     
     
       4. The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first network has different components than the second network. 
     
     
       5. The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first network and the second network comprise one or more same components, and wherein the one or more components has different concentrations in the first network and the second network. 
     
     
       6. The article of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a silicon wafer, a polymeric film, or glass. 
     
     
       7. The article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second networks comprises conductive nanoparticles. 
     
     
       8. The article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second networks comprises glass frits. 
     
     
       9. The article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second networks comprises one or more dopants to the substrate. 
     
     
       10. The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first network comprises glass frit and the second network comprises silver nanoparticles.